Parent Council News - Nov 2011

Message from Lisa Berstein, Chair

There is a whole lot of excitement in the air at Brown School this fall…

With the Fall Fling coming up soon, many of your children may have mentioned that they have been busy creating their works of art for the event. A big thank you to all the volunteer parents, teachers and students who have been working hard on these crafts for the Fling!

We look forward to seeing you all at the Fall Fling on Thursday, MOvember 17th!

Reminder: the next Parent Council meeting will take place on Thursday, MOvember 10th at 9:00 a.m. in the Meeting Room. We look forward to seeing many of you there. I promise to have an assortment of baked goods and coffee for you at the meeting!

Wrapping Paper and Chocolate

Thank you everybody for your support this year! The wrapping paper and chocolate products will be available to take home on Monday November 21st.  If you have any questions, please call Laura Chorneyko at 416-999-9225.

The Fall Fling is just around the corner!!!

Tickets: to buy your tickets leave the following information plus $50 per ticket (cheques to Brown Parent Council or cash) in an envelope in the Fall Fling box at the School Office: your name, number of tickets, your child's name, your child's classroom (or teacher).  Tickets will be delivered to your child via their backpack.  Exceptionally this year, the early bird deadline HAS BEEN EXTENDED until WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 9th because some classroom notifications were delivered later than normal.  Buy your tickets in advance and be entered to win a $175 gift certificate for Scaramouche restaurant.  Final day for tickets via the school is Friday, November 11th.

Baskets: The following classes have been asked to create themed baskets.  If your class is on the list, please donate a small item to your class basket by Friday, November 11th. For questions, ask your class rep or Bettina Hoar (hoarhouse@gmail.com).

Grade	Teacher	Theme
JK am & pm	Warden	Baby Time
JK & SK	Ferraioli	Viva Italia
SK FI am & pm	MacQuarrie	A la France
1 FI	Legge	Holiday Entertaining
1 FI	B’Dacy	Feminine Frills
1	Regan	Soup(er) Chef
1/2 English	Foord	Boys & Their Toys
1/2 FI	Weizman	Boys & Their Toys
2/3 FI	Nguyen	A Taste of Asia
3 FI	Sulymko	Movie Night
3/4  FI	Breslin	Cottage Comforts
4 FI	Blanchard	Baker’s Start Up Kit

 

Catalogue: The online auction catalogue will be published later this week.  Be sure to check back to the http://www.brownschool.ca/ website so you can see the amazing donations from parents, the local community, teachers and your kids!!!  Final day for submitting donations is Wednesday, November 9th.

Giving Tree: tax deductible donations of $25 or more to the Giving Tree (school's wish list) can be made via cheque in the Giving Tree box in the office or on the night of the Fall Fling. 

Looking forward to seeing you all at the Fling - Thursday, Nov. 17th, 6:30 p.m. at the B&R Club!

Kiss N' Ride 101

We provide a safe, efficient drop off zone for Brown school families that helps effectively manage traffic flow and reduce the risks to students and drivers alike during this busy time of day.

How to use it: 

• Good news, it's free, no sign up required and it's available every morning between 8:35am-8:50am. 
• Located on Poplar Plains Rd, and marked by orange pylons, drivers simply pull up to the front of the line in the designated area, trained volunteers, open your doors and assist your child on to the sidewalk. 
• If required, children will be escorted into the playgrounds which are supervised by teachers at that time. 
• Once your child has safely exited the vehicle, you can carry on to work, or your next appointment with ease.

Please, please, please, keep all necessary bags with your child NOT in the trunk.

What not to do:

• DO NOT PARK in the designated areas while the program is operating.  This disrupts the flow of traffic, and is simply discourteous.
• DO NOT exit from the drivers' side of the vehicle to assist.  Our volunteers know how to open and close vehicle doors, and being hit by passing traffic will ensure you are late for your next appointment.
• DO NOT PARK in the underground teacher parking lot OR drop your children off in this area.  It is dark, visibility is poor and it is meant for Staff.

For those who choose not use or need to assist your child into the schoolyard, there is legal parking on

Balmoral Avenue

in the morning as well as a limited number of 10 min drop spots on Poplar Plains south of Lynwood.

As the colder weather approaches Kiss N Ride usage will pick up. Please use it, and use it safely.

Thank you,
Yvonne Harding, Coordinator
yvonne@maclean-howard.org

Parent Council News - Oct 2011

Message from Lisa Bernstein, Chair

WHAT A MONTH!!

Wow! September has passed and it is hard to believe how much we packed into one month.

The New Parent Breakfast / AGM was a success! A big thanks to Katharine Lake Berz and all the parents who helped out with baking, coffee pick-up and all the many other tasks that made this event so great. Thank you to Mr. Ellis for the use of the music room and the many teachers for coming out as well!

The Parent Council is always looking for new parents to come out to meetings and provide some fresh ideas for Brown.

The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 19th at 7:00 p.m. in the library. All parents/caregivers are welcome.

We also wanted to welcome Gina Christakis as she has now officially set up shop. We are looking forward to a great year.

...And finally, a BIG thanks to Jane Giuliani for stepping in as interim Principal  for the month of September.

Deadline for Wrapping Paper & Chocolate Orders is Friday, October 21

Parties and presents galore make wrapping paper an essential item year-round. Reminders for ordering:

• Order online at www.stanbridge-innisbrook.com; Brown School code is 124849
• Print the payment voucher and return to school along with cheque payable to Brown Parent Council. NO CASH PLEASE.
• Helpline for orders: 1-877-525-5608.
• Remember - the more you sell, the more prizes you earn! Happy selling!

The Fall Fling Needs Your Donations!

A great way to highlight your products or services to the Brown School community - donate an item for auction at this year's Fall Fling Silent Auction!  What can be donated?

• Tickets for sporting events: Got season tickets but know you will be missing a game because of travel?  Donate your tickets and become a hero (tickets are ALWAYS fought over at the auction!!).
• Free consultation: Opened up a new business?  Want a new client?  Donate a free consultation of your time and expertise!  It's a great way of getting your name out there at a very reasonable cost!
• Show us what ya got!  Are the parents or kids at Brown school part of your core target market?  By donating your product you can get fabulous exposure (and gratitude!) from the Brown community. 
• Have fun: Do you have access to something one of a kind?  Can you invite a kid to shadow a vet for the day?  Do you know a celebrity that could record someone's answering machine message as a prize?  Do you know a chef who could cater a party of 8?  Do you know a magician or clown that wants to break into the birthday party circuit?  These one of a kind items are priceless and make a big impression at the auction.

All donations will be highlighted in the Brown website and in a catalogue sent out to all families prior to the event.   Money raised at the event will DIRECTLY benefit YOUR CHILDREN.  It's a win-win situation and we hope you'll be a part of it!

For any questions or with help putting donations together don't hesitate to contact Bettina Hoar (hoarhouse@gmail.com) or Sophie Lamoureux (solam22@hotmail.com).

Brown School Clothing On Sale Now!

Easy as 1-2-3 Online!

Brown School Hats, Scarfs, Sweat Shirts, Long and Short Sleeve T-Shirts are now available online! Please view the catalogue at http://brownschool.ca/documents/forms/Brown%20School%20Merchandise.Oct%2011%20update.pdf. After that?

1. Send your order via email to Connie Dingle at brownmerchandise@gmail.com 

2. Send your payment to school. Cheques should be made out to Brown Parent Council.

3. Your merchandise will be delivered to you via your classroom. Easy! 

Parent Council News - Sept 2011

Message from Lisa Bernstein, Chair 

On behalf of the Brown Parent Council, I'd like to welcome all new and returning families to Brown Junior Public School. I'd also like to extend a warm welcome to our new Principal, Gina Christakis, who will be joining us permanently at the end of September.  We cannot thank Jane Giuliani enough for joining Brown School on an interim basis and facilitating a smooth transition for our new Principal!

The Brown Parent Council is gearing up for a fun filled and exciting start to the new school year. We have a number of events and activities already planned to enrich the student experience at Brown! Thank you to the volunteer efforts of so many of our incredible Brown parents, who are essential to the success of these events and activities.

The Brown Parent Council invites all parents to attend a New Parent Breakfast on Wednesday,

September 28 at 8:00 a.m. in the Gym. This is a great way to meet and mingle with parents who are new to Brown School. The gathering will give “new” parents an opportunity to meet and chat with “old” Brown Parents, teachers, Principals Gina Christakis, Jane Giuliani and Vice Principal Sonja Litner. Everyone is welcome! 

All interested parents are invited to attend the Brown Parent Council Annual General Meeting, which will follow the New Parent Breakfast. The AGM starts at 9:00 a.m. and will take place in the Gym. All interested parents are invited to attend the AGM to learn more about the school and to find out about exciting opportunities to get involved. The first Parent Council Meeting will follow immediately after the AGM. All parents are welcome and are encouraged to attend.

Please contact me at bernstl@lao.on.ca if you are interested in discussing any parent council issues or have questions about how you can help out.

Looking forward to a great year at Brown!

- Lisa Bernstein, Chair

The Brown Communications Network

Student Agenda – Be sure to establish close communication with your classroom teacher. Regularly checking the student agenda is a common way to be kept up to date on school work and activities in the classroom and in the school.

Brown Bulletin – The monthly bulletin is sent out electronically. Please make sure that you are on our email list by signing up at http://www.brownschool.ca/news.asp?ID=173  If your email address has changed, please be sure to sign up again with the new address.

Brown Website – School news bulletins, sports schedules and events, archived Bulletins, forms and other important information can be found on our website:  www.brownschool.ca.   Please check back often!

Brown Handbook – Our Handbook outlines Brown’s staff roles, classes, special activities and policies to help give families an overview of the school. The 2011-2012 edition will be sent home in October.

Class Parents – Parent Representatives of each class help connect parents with their child’s teacher, the administration, and with the Parent Council. Please speak to your teacher if you are interested in being a Class Parent.

We hope you will feel connected with Brown School this year. Please contact Nina Moritsugu at nmoritsugu@cognitionllp.com if you would like to help with Brown Communications.

We can't wait for the Fall Fling! Save the Date - it's on November 17th! 

Welcome Brown families to the 2011-2012 school year! 

The Fall Fling is Brown’s major fundraiser: a sizzling silent auction.  Save the date of November 17th! If you’d like to help out gathering donations or planning the event – WE’D LOVE TO HAVE YOU ALONG.  It’s a ton of fun and a great way to meet other parents.  Please contact Bettina Hoar (hoarhouse@gmail.com) or Sophie Lamoureux (solam22@hotmail.com) if you’d like to know more.